Post Office Horizon redress scheme documentation: FOI release

Information requested

All documentation held by the Scottish Government, including email correspondence to and from the government (including internal), briefings, analysis and minutes/notes from meetings, about the post office redress scheme from the last three months (which is 25 October 2024 to 24 January 2025).

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested in the Annex.

It may be helpful to explain the Scottish Government does not operate the redress schemes relating to the post office. These are operated by the UK Government and Post Office and information on the operation of these schemes is contained in the link below:

Post Office Horizon financial redress data as of 31 January 2025 - GOV.UK

A small amount of information is held by the Scottish Government in relation to post office redress schemes. While our aim is provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption under section 28(1) (relations within the UK), 30(b)(ii) (free and frank exchange of views) and 38 (personal information) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 applies.

Exemptions under 28(1) and 30(b)(ii) are subject to the public interest test. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemptions. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemptions. We recognise there is public interest in post office redress schemes. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in maintaining effective channels of communication with the UK Government (section 28(1)) which would be hindered if it was considered information exchanged was to be disclosed which then impacted on decisions of what information should be shared. This would prejudice the delivery of the necessary discussions between the UK Government and Scottish Government. Upholding the exemption under 30(b)(ii) is important to maintain private space for consideration within the Scottish Government as to matters relating to post office redress. This consideration would be inhibited if such information was disclosed.

Exemption under section 38 (personal information) is not subject to the public interest test. The information held is subject to the section 38 exemption as it relates to the names of civil servants working in this area and is personal data of a third party. Disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the UK GDPR (or section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018).

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202500449681 - Information released - Annex

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